People act like playing in the WBC is career threatening. These guys are pro athletes, they condition themselves for this kind of thing. Let's not act like they're fragile.

The point is that if they get injured, they get injured playing for someone who is not on the hook for the guaranteed contract. They'll be playing in games where they actually care who wins, instead of games where players are working on things to get ready for the season. Why should the Chicago White Sox (or any other team) have to pay the salary of a player who's unable to play as a result of an injury sustained in an activity outside of their White Sox job?

__________________

"Nellie Fox, that little son of a gun, was always on base and was a great hit-and-run man. He sprayed hits all over."
Yogi Berra in the New York Sunday News (July 12, 1970)